1 Samuel 18:3

1 Samuel 18:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
• New International Version (NIV)And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Context of 1 Samuel 18:3

1Now it came about, when he had finished speaking to Saul, that Jonathan committed himself to David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2And Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his military gear, including his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5And David went into battle wherever Saul sent him, and always achieved success; so Saul put him in charge of the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

1 Samuel 18:3 word by word

וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִ֑ית בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ אֹת֖וֹ כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• madeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
• a covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
• with Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• because he lovedאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
• him as himselfנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:3

• 1 Samuel 20:8So deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But if I am guilty of wrongdoing, kill me yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?”
• 1 Samuel 23:18So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord; and David stayed at Horesh, while Jonathan went to his house.
• 2 Samuel 9:1Then David said, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul, so that I could show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
• 2 Samuel 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath of the Lord which was between them, between David and Saul’s son Jonathan.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:3

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4Because Jonathan loved David and knew God had chosen David to be Israel's next king (see 1 Samuel 20:13–17, 30–31; 23:17), he made a serious promise of friendship with him. Jonathan gave David items that showed his status as the king's son and crown prince, symbolically passing his right to be the next king to David.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant--Such covenants of brotherhood are frequent in the East. They are ratified by certain ceremonies, and in presence of witnesses, that the persons covenanting will be sworn brothers for life.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:3

• Covenant
• David
• Friendship
• Jonathan

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jonathan
• Ascribe
• Avoid
• Kingdom
• Soul
• Stripling
• Tabret
• Valiant
• Covenant, in the Old Testament

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings